Bonner councilman will run for current seat, not mayor

Edwardsville mayor, others discuss election plans

With rumors flying around that he will run for mayor, Bonner Springs City Councilman Tom Stephens wants to set the record straight.

“I am rerunning, but I am running for my current council seat,” said Stephens, who represents Ward 2.

Mayor Clausie Smith’s announcement that he will not seek a sixth term may have sparked some community speculation on this spring’s council elections. Four council members’ seats are up for election in addition to the mayor’s seat. In Edwardsville, two council member seats and the mayor’s seat also are up for election.

All seats for both cities will be four-year terms.

Stephens said he wanted to continue on the council because he is proud of what the city has accomplished in the six years he has served and the way it has served the needs of the citizens even in tough economic times.

Though Stephens doesn’t have mayoral aspirations, there are two council members who do plan to run for mayor. Jeff Harrington, current Ward 4 representative whose term expires in April, stated Tuesday that he planned to run for mayor rather than for re-election to his current seat. Jack Knight, who represents Ward I and still has two years left in his term, also said Tuesday he plans to run for the top seat.

Knight’s fellow Ward 1 Councilman George Cooper said he also is likely to run for re-election to his current seat.

Edwardsville council seats also will be up for election this spring, and Edwardsville Mayor John “Tiny” McTaggart stated that he does plan to run for re-election.

The Chieftain attempted to contact other elected officials whose terms will expire in April to determine their intentions to run for re-election, but has yet to receive a response. The final elected official whose term will be expiring in Bonner is Rodger Shannon, Ward 3.

In Edwardsville, officials whose seats will be considered in the election are at-large council members Mark Bishop and John Eickhoff.

Watch for more information about potential incumbents, as well as candidate filings, as it becomes available at bonnersprings.com.